Continental drift
Alfa’s gorgeous sports sedan is guaranteed to turn heads and raise eyebrows
If exclusivity appeals to you, the Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio should be on your shopping list. Here are five things you should know about this Italian-bred sports sedan.
THIS IS THE WILDEST SEDAN ON SALE
Alfa Romeo’s Ferrari-powered Giulia sedan remains the most exciting fourdoor on sale.
Though it might be less powerful than the hybrid Mercedes-AMG C 63 or less polished than the BMW M3, there is zero doubt the Giulia is the most beautiful and sonorous car in this class.
It’s also incredibly sharp to drive, with lightning quick steering that delivers agility rarely found in any four-door car.
It’s a genuinely special machine, and it could be yours for about $166,000 drive-away.
IT’S FLAT-OUT GORGEOUS
We don’t write at length about how a car looks, believing that photos and videos allow you to make up your own mind. But we’ll make an exception for this Alfa Romeo.
The Giulia’s looks are a central pillar of its appeal. Check out that curvaceous bonnet, the intricate telephone-dial wheels, that four-leaf clover (Quadrifoglio) crest and those feline headlamps. Look closer and you’ll see subtle aero elements unfurling from the door sills, an eyecatching boot spoiler and four stacked tailpipes that are the genuine article, not fake plastic outlets.
It has the low, taut stance of an athlete ready to sprint out of the blocks and those curves hide litheness rivals can’t match. Helped by weight saving measures such as a carbon fibre bonnet and electric brake booster (not to mention a studious avoidance of hybrid tech), the Alfa undercuts its Mercedes rival by about half a tonne.
TIME HAS BEEN KIND TO THE GIULIA
It could be that Mediterranean diet rich in extra-virgin (full synthetic) oil and chargrilled Pirelli tyres but the series four Giulia has aged like fine wine.
It helps that the brilliant BMW M3 has a face only a mother could love and that AMG swapped its trademark V8 brutality for plug-in hybrid cleverness.
Though it may be the oldest car in its class, the Giulia remains desirable, helped by little tweaks such as a new touchscreen infotainment system and full-width digital dash.
The 2.9-litre twin turbo V6 still makes 375kW and 600Nm, uses 8.2L/100km of fuel, has a top speed of 307km/h and can reach 100km/h in 3.9 seconds.
IT’S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS
Those figures are more than adequate, if not staggering in a modern world where EVs are quicker for half the price.
But no EV can match the soaring exhaust note of the Giulia, or its blend of poise and agility when driven with gusto.
That snappy eight-speed, paddleshift auto bucks through down changes with a triumphant blat from the exhaust and the razor-sharp steering scythes toward apexes like a proper sports car.
Unlike any other Alfa Romeo – particularly the underwhelming Tonale – this Giulia lives up to the “baby Ferrari” experience owners hope for.
IT DEMANDS RESPECT
The Giulia is a feisty thoroughbred that demands sensitivity and a steady hand from its jockey.
Our test car had track-spec Pirelli Corsa tyres that need time and heat to work properly.
The car wanted to slide its tail and lock its brakes at the start of every journey, even when driven gently.
It also had carbon ceramic brakes with a wooden feeling pedal that had us second-guessing brake applications. They’re effective, but not particularly well tuned.
The other trap for Giulia owners lies in the “race” mode that turns up exhaust sounds, sharpens gear shifts and electrifies its throttle response.
That setting also deactivates all traction and stability control, leaving the driver with no safety net.
This car’s enormously powerful motor and snappy chassis can bite, so it’s best to leave that for the track.